Roller-skate



(Modem E. H. BARNBY. Roller Skate.

No. 235,666. Patented Dec, 21, I880.

UNITED STATES PATENT @Tricn,

EVERETT H. BAENEY, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

ROLLER-SKATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 235,666, dated December 21, 1880.

'. Application filed March 10, 1880. (Model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1 EVERETT H. BARNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Roller-Skates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to skates which are adapted to be used upon floors and other smooth surfaces rather than upon ice; and the objects of my invention are to so combine metallic or other rollers and roller-supporting devices, together with metallic sole and heel plates, upon a metallic frame as to produce an improved skate of this class in relation to lightness, strength, and symmetry of proportions; to provide improved retracting-sprin gs for the axles and improved axle-skeins, and to adapt to such skates screw-clamp fastenings in place of straps. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l, is a side elevation of my entire skate. Fi g. 2 is a side elevation of the skate with thewheels and axles removed therefrom. Fig. 3 is a view of the forward axle, partly in section. Fig. at is a view of therear axle with both wheels thereon. Fig. 5 is a view of the under side and central portion of p the rear axle. Fig. 6 is a view of the forward axle-retractingv spring. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the two-armed rear axle-plate; and Fig. Sis a plan view of box-springs fitting the hollow central portion of the rear axle, showing between the segments thereof the ends of the two arms of the rear axle-plate.

Like letters refer ent views.

The metallic frame A constitutes a support for the sole-plate B and for the heel-plate O, which plates are secured to said frame by the riveted brackets 1 2 3. The metallic screwclamping devices shown on the sole-plate are fully described in the United States Patent to (Joe and Sniffen, dated May 3, 1859, No. 23,826, extended April 29, 1873, for seven years; and the metallic screw-clamping devices shown on the heel-plate are such as are shown and described in my United States Patent dated February 19, 1878, No. 200,424. The strong intermediate portion of frame A .between the forward and rear wheels of the to like parts in the differskate, which is suffioiently rigid to insure uni form vibrating action in both axles when the skate is rocked laterally, also permits of constructin g the sole and heel plates of separate light metallic plates, and said construction and combination of the frame A and plates B and G conduce to make those essential por tions of the skate light, strong, and symmetrical. Under the sole and heel plates the frame A is made of a considerable width. vertically, as

shown, and onto those portions are fixed the axle-bolts cl d, the latter being ofone piecewith the frame, and inclined, as shown. The front axlebolt, d, is round from end to end, and pro vided with a pin-hole, as shown; but the rear one, d, is square at its lower end, and likewise has a pin-hole pierced through it. Fitted to said squared end of bolt cl, so that it cannot turn thereon, is the rear axle-plate, I), having the arms 0 projecting from its inner face, as seen in Fig. 2.

The rear axle, E, is constructed with an annular chamber, 6,. surrounding the bolt-hole 02 therein, and said annular chamber is divided into two portions, as shown in Fig. 5, by the spring-abutments 00 0c. The relative depth of chamber 73 as compared to the diameter of axle E is shown in Fig. 4..

When the axle E is in place on bolt cl, as in Fig. 1., the upper face of the cylindrical box like foundation on said axle-surroun din g chamber i (seen in Figs. 1, 4, and 5) bears against a flange on frame A at the base of said bolt, and the axleplate I), with its arms a 0 projecting into chamberi midway between the spring abutments a: 00, is placed on the lower square end of bolt d, covering theopen side of chamber 13, and is secured in that position by a pin or other suitable means.

It will be seen that when axle E and plate I) are placed upon bolt d, as above set forth, chamber z is divided into four compartments by the spring-abutments x 00, which are fixed therein, and by the inwardly-projecting arms 0, which are fixed to plate I), and with no interposed resistance between arms 6 and said abutments axle E may vibrate freely within certain limits on bolt d. Therefore, to cause said axle to be held with a certain force in a position at right angles to frame A, I interpose in chamber i, between the said abntments ac and the fixed arms a on plate I), a resilient material,

either of rubber or a suitable metallic steadyi ng and retracting spring, which acts between said arms and abutments, pressing them apart, causing the axle to be held as aforesaid, and operating it on bolt (1, and causing it to swing to a position at right angles to frame A.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a series of rubber segments, 2, of proper dimensions to fit into chamber z", adapted to be placed therein between said arms and the abutments x, to act as springs for the purpose above set forth, and in said figure is shown. the position of arms 0 between the segments, the open spaces between them providing places for the said abutments or. The said segments 2 may be replaced with a rubber ring of suitable dimensions to fit chamber 13, and adapted to receive into holes perforated longitudinallyin its ends projecting posts in said chamber in place of said abutments w, and suitable arms on plate, to fit said holes, instead of arms 6.

On the outside of the casing surrounding chamberi are fixed two stop-blocks, 0, (seen in Figs. 1, 4, and 5,) which serve to limit the vibrator movement of axle E on bolt d by striking against the side of frame A when said axle has swung around as far as it may be required to. The wheels of the axle E are secured thereon bya pin and washerin the usual way. At the base of pins 62 cZ,I provide pockets 'v for holding a lubricating material.

F is the forward axle, and is adapted to operate on bolt d, so far as to vibrate thereon under frame A in like manner to axle E; but its retracting and steadying spring is of different construction and application to that whose action, in governing the movements of axle E, has just been described. Axle F has a free vibratory movement on bolt d, within the limits permitted by the position of the stop-blocks s s on the axle, which strike against the sides of frame A when said axle swings around on said bolt.

The bolt-s0cket on axle F is of tubular form, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and is provided with an arm, a, projecting at right angles there from, and when said axle is placed on bolt cl a spring, h, Fig. 6, is put upon the lower end of said bolt-socket, with arm a interposed between the parallel arms of said spring, but not reaching to the ends of them. Said parallel arms of spring h are of sufficient length beyond the end of arm a to extend up against the sides of frame A, as seen in Fig. 1, causing axle F to be held firmly atv right angles to frame A, while the end of arm a may swing clear of the lower edge of said frame. Thus when axle F swings on bolt 61 arm a is caused to press against one of the parallel arms of spring h, forcing it away from the side of frame A and from its opposite arm, which bears against the opposite side of said frame; but when the force which caused axle F to swing on said bolt ceases to act the said arm of spring h springs back against the side of frame A, causing said axle to reassume a position at right angles to the frame.

The usual construction of the devices for fastening the wheels or rollers of skates of this class upon their axles causes more or less inconvenience to the wearer by providingpins upon which their garments get caught, and to obviate that difficulty I provide such a construot-ion of the axle-skein as is shown in Fig. 3. In said construction I bore into the ends of the axles, as shown, and make the skein a in the form of a half-round-headed bolt, which I fit into the bored-out end of the axle, and drive a pin, a", through the axle and skein, to secure the parts firmly together after the wheel is in place on the skein, between the head thereof and the end of the axle. The aforesaid manner of constructing said skein provides such a smooth exterior form and finish beyond the end of the wheel-hub as quite obviate the above-named difficulty, arising from the use of pins and similar devices. The swinging of the axles of this skate on their bolts 01 d by the lateral rocking motion of the frame A, and consequent inclination sidewise of said bolts, is a wellknown result of such constructions, and hence the.operation of the combined parts of this skate'requires no further description.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. The combination, with the skate-frame and its inclined bolt, of a detachable armed plate, I), the axle E, provided with chambers adapted to receive said arms, and springs arranged in said chambers between abutments thereof and the arms of the plate, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, in a roller-skate, of the frame A and axles E F, provided with stops 0 s and springs h i, the frame extending between said stops and constituting bearings therefor, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the frame, its inclined axle-bolt, axle having a hub receiving said bolt and provided with a lug, n, and spring h, embracing the hub and having arms extending past the lug and overlapping the frame, substantially as set forth.

4.. The combination, with a roller-skate frame, of an axle recessed at each end, and axle-skeins each fitting and secured in one of said recesses and provided with a stationary head securing one of the wheels, as set forth.

EVERETT H. BARNEY.

Witnesses WM. H. OHAPIN, X. 0. OHAPIN.

IIO 

